For decades, researchers have sought greater understanding of the educational achievement gap between Blacks and Whites in the U.S. Past studies have concentrated heavily on K-12 attainment, and more recently on that of minority paths to higher education as well as obstacles to academic achievement. Often unnoticed are the interactions between social forces and the individual level psycho-social and cultural factors that may place a significant role; the stigmatization and resultant marginalization of Black students by negative stereotypes that classify them as intellectually inferior. This study explores African American and Black African highs school students' perceptions of negative stereotypes placed upon them through the conceptual frameworks of critical race theory (CRT) and the multidimensional model of racial identity (MMRI). Examining differences by immigrant status, this study seeks to uncover the intersection between the socially constructed images assigned to stigmatized groups differently influenced by negative stereotypes of Blacks and the subsequent influence on the students' perceptions and expectations of higher education. The narratives of this study illustrate the complexity of and interplay between external forces, minority youth social identities and pathways to academic attainment. This study finds that African American and Black African youth have multiple social identities that are not always reflective of the most accessible one of race. This study finds that salient social identities, personal or vicarious experiences of discrimination and being negatively stereotyped shape Black youths' individual aspirations and strategies for achievement. The present study calls into question the claim that Black youth process and respond to negative stereotypes of Blacks in a predictable manner and that these students respond to them independently of other social forces such as their families and communities in which they reside.

Since 1994, tourism has become one of the most benefited industries among the overall of the South African economy. However, the industry is still far from being an example of transformations. The tourism industry in South Africa is still dominated by white-owned large enterprises, leaving limited space for the development of black-owned small tourism businesses. The existing literature identifies that government support represents a key variable regarding small tourism business development, specifically among black entrepreneurs. This study evaluated the role of provincial government support in the development of black-owned small tourism businesses in the South Africa, with a focus on Cape Town.

This thesis explores the complex identities of the Hindu community of Lusaka, Zambia. It argues that current theories in migration and diaspora studies are not sufficient for understanding such groups in post-colonial Africa. The thesis proposes that we should revisit ‘forgotten’ literature, on immigrants as ‘stranger’ communities, that originates from Georg Simmel’s 1908 essay, ‘The Stranger’. Such work, which this thesis terms ‘stranger theory’, usefully contributes to more contemporary approaches by enabling a comprehensive assessment of a community’s position and how that position changes over time. Stranger theory is used in this thesis to situate Lusaka’s Hindus (and Zambian Hindus more generally) as ‘organic’ members of the nation, whose relationships with wider society are characterised by both ‘nearness’ and ‘remoteness’. The thesis first describes the emergence of a Zambian Hindu ethnic identity during colonial and immediate postcolonial (post-1964) periods focussing on migration and settlement patterns, immigrant networks and the emergence of cultural associations. A theme running throughout the thesis is that the ‘plural society’ of the colonial era (a society consisting of separate, racially-categorised groups with limited interaction) has persisted in Zambia in a postcolonial form, and that this is a useful way of understanding the position of the Hindu community in Zambia today. Following the historical discussion is an analysis of how the contemporary city of Lusaka is experienced by its Hindu residents, through mapping out spaces, social structures and practices that remain unique to Lusaka’s Hindus. Lusaka’s Hindu community is presented as both cohesive and fragmented; the thesis goes on to analyse the ways in which community identity itself is frequently broken down and reconfigured by its members. Zambia’s Hindus comprise diverse sets and subgroups of immigrants with uneven and ‘flexible’ approaches to, and experiences of, migration, citizenship and belonging, rather than embodying a single, quantifiable ‘diaspora’ entity. Yet, in local terms, Hindus in Lusaka are often treated as part of a general ‘Indian’ group; indeed, the thesis shows how Hindus’ relationships with other groups in Zambia emphasise the ‘stranger’ dimension of the community’s position in society. Finally, the thesis asserts that Zambian Hindu ‘twice migrants’—those who migrate onwards to new destinations—reinforce the existence and identities of the ‘home’ community in Zambia. Indeed, these twice migrants must be considered as African and Zambian transnational migrants as well as part of a South Asian ‘diaspora’. Methodologically, the thesis is driven by situational analysis, and brings two separate versions of this approach (from Sociology and Anthropology) together, drawing on data collected in Zambia between 2006 and 2008.

This thesis explores the social realities of working in a minority language labour market through a case-study of the Gaelic language in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.  In this study, the ‘Gaelic labour market’ refers to a group of jobs for which knowledge of Gaelic is a condition of employment. By conceptualising language as situated in social practices, this study draws on in-depth interviews with people who work in this labour market, to research the ways in which personal identities, values and meanings associated with the language can be asserted, formed and contested through working practices.  The research found a multiplicity of motives for working in the Gaelic labour market which included both ‘mercenary’ and ‘crusading’ elements.  Gaelic language practice in the Gaelic labour market is not necessarily stable or habitual, but is contested practice given that there is no single ideology of language which workers bring to bear on upon their working situations. Whilst for some participation in the Gaelic labour market profoundly affected how they identified with the language, for others this involvement had little consequence for their identity.  The dominant outcome was one of ambivalence over what membership of the Gaelic labour market meant and in which ways it could have implications for how workers lived their lives.  The results show how the labour market is one space through which different ideologies of the language are contested, as well as being a contested concept in and of itself.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / This study was designed to examine mentoring of minority midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy (USNA). Mentoring has long been practiced in the business world to introduce new employees to their new assignments, positions, or jobs. This study searched for the effects of mentoring on Black and White male midshipmen and examined the distinguishing features that make mentoring a positive experience for the mentor and protgÌ Ì alike. Additionally, this study looked at the features of mentoring that may influence minority midshipmen to remain at the USNA and in the United States Navy as well. Focus groups with over 50 participants were conducted and content analyzed for reliable themes. Although there seems to be mistrust of faculty and staff, upperclassmen are an invaluable and sought after source of specific information. Further, minorities especially seek networks such as sports teams and "Black" clubs for support. In such homogeneous networks, minority midshipmen are less likely to feel vulnerable or inadequate when seeking information. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

Depuis plus d'une dizaine d'années, les différences de consommation d'alcool et de harcèlement entre les individus appartenant aux minorités sexuelles et ceux appartenant aux hétérosexuels sont examinées de plus près (Hughes, McCabe, Wilsnack, West et Boyd, 2010; Katz-Wise et Hyde, 2012; Marshal, Friedman, Stall et Thompson, 2009 ; Mays et Cochran, 2001; McCabe, Hughes, Bostwick, West et Boyd, 2009). Certaines observations supposent que ceux faisant partie des minorités sexuelles consomment plus d’alcool et sont plus harcelées que ceux faisant partie des hétérosexuels (Kerr, Ding et Chaya, 2014; Katz-Wise et Hyde, 2012; Ueno, 2010; Woodford, Krentzman et Gattis, 2012). La minority stress theory peut permettre d'expliquer ces différences (Meyer, 2003). En effet, le fait de vivre dans une société qui normalise les comportements sexuels ainsi que l’hétérosexualité, est un facteur de risque pour les comportements à risque chez les individus faisant partie des minorités sexuelles (Meyer, 2003). Comprendre le rôle médiateur du harcèlement dans l’association entre faire partie des minorités sexuelles et la consommation d’alcool est motivé par l’effet potentiellement médiateur du harcèlement sur les individus faisant partie des minorités sexuelles et sur l’augmentation de la consommation d’alcool (Meyer, 2003; Woodford, Krentzman et Gattis, 2012). Méthodologie L’étude a été conduite auprès de 8 737 participants, selon une méthode d’échantillonnage stratifiée. Il s'agit d'une enquête téléphonique concernant les comportements reliés à la santé. Les participants étaient questionnés sur leur consommation d’alcool, sur leur identité sexuelle, sur leurs comportements sexuels et sur le harcèlement vécu. Des corrélations bivariées et des régressions logistiques binaires ont été réalisées pour répondre aux objectifs de l’étude et pour examiner s’il y a une médiation entre les variables. Résultats Les analyses démontrent que certaines identités sexuelles et certains comportements sexuels sont significativement différents de ceux appartenant aux hétérosexuels ou de ceux ayant des comportements sexuels avec l’autre sexe seulement, pour la consommation d’alcool et pour le harcèlement. Par contre, avoir vécu du harcèlement n’est pas significativement associé à la consommation d’alcool, lorsque contrôler avec l’identité sexuelle ou les comportements sexuels. Cette association est restée non-significative donc, une médiation ne peut être établie. Discussion Généralement, quelques différences et quelques associations peuvent être observées entre les individus appartenant aux minorités sexuelles ou aux hétérosexuels pour la consommation d’alcool et le harcèlement, mais ces différences varient selon l’identité sexuelle, les comportements sexuels et le genre. Le harcèlement, par contre, n’est pas associé avec la probabilité de consommer de l’alcool et, donc, ne peut pas avoir le rôle de médiateur.

This thesis studies how a non-white minority integrates into Swedish society in order to better understand the particularities of Sweden’s immigration model and to see if it is as suitable as it is made out to be in EU circles. It does so through an exhaustive review and cross-examination of existing literature on immigration in Sweden, and by collecting opinions from members of a long established immigrant community: the Eritreans in Sweden. It calls for a more nuanced approach in education and society to issues of race and ethnicity, so that the majority of the population realizes that using and discussing these categories should not be avoided, because they are useful to come to terms with diversity. By not focusing exclusively on economic insertion, but by also placing emphasis on the socio-cultural integration of minority identities, it will point out to the need for more comprehensive integration policies that equate opportunities and chances of non-white Swedes with those of natives and ensure equal access to the labor and housing markets. It contends that ‘top-down’ legislation and systemic implementation of such policies foster feelings of ‘belongingness’ among non-white Swedes, and contribute to the creation of social capital and to the overall peaceful coexistence of Swedes of different cultural backgrounds.

Inspired by the lack of minority female representation in the media, this study questions how 11-14 year old Latina adolescents from low SES backgrounds are influenced by protagonist race, gender, and genre in stories with respect to participant personal aspiration, gender atypical personal aspiration, self-esteem, and self-efficacy. Due to the particular lack of representation of non-whites and non-males in action/adventure stories, it is predicted in this intervention study completed each week over the course of 8 weeks, that Latina adolescents will experience the most positive increase in self-esteem, self-efficacy, and gender atypical personal aspiration when exposed to Latina female protagonists in action/adventure stories. They will also experience significant increases in the dependent variables from highest to lowest in the following conditions: Latina female biographies, Latino males in action/adventure, Latino male biographies, White females in Action/Adventure, and White female biographies. It is predicted that there will be a a decrease in self-esteem, self-efficacy, general aspiration, and gender-atypical personal aspiration for participants exposed to White male action/adventure stories, and to a lesser significant extent from the preceding condition, a decrease in self-esteem, self-efficacy, general aspiration, and gender-atypical personal aspiration for participants exposed to White male Biographies. This research is significant in understanding the influence of minority female representation in books, film, and the general media.

The purpose of this study was to examine the economic and psychosocial barriers to receiving adequate prenatal care among racial minority women.The respondents for this study were thirty racial minority women. The sixteenAfrican-American and fourteen Hispanic women respondents were all postpartum patients at Grady Memorial Hospital. The content of the study includes an in-depth look at both the economic and psychosocial barriers to receiving adequate use prenatal care, as well as the historical perspective. The related topics of low birthweight and infant mortality are also examined. The Cognitive Theory was examined in an attempt to understand the reasoning behind racial minority women not receiving adequate prenatal care. A Pearson's "r" correlation was conducted between the independent variables and the dependent variable. Both of the null hypotheses were accepted. Therefore, the major findings in this study concluded that there was no statistical significance between economic and psychosocial barriers and receiving adequate prenatal care among racial minority women.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals belong to one of the most discriminated groups in Canada and abroad. Using minority stress theory, researchers have found that such a climate of homophobia and transphobia has been associated with negative mental health outcomes among LGBTQ individuals. However, despite the presence of campaigns such as the “It Gets Better Project”, few academics have explored whether it does “get better” for LGBTQ people who have experienced anti-LGBTQ prejudice in their youth; and further, few academics have explored whether such individuals who have experienced prejudice can flourish in terms of their positive mental health. Positive mental health explores how individuals can be resilient and thrive within society; it looks at positive feelings people have about themselves, others and society. However, it does not mean an absence of negative mental health outcomes, in that individuals with depression, for example, can also flourish in respect to their positive mental health. The purpose of the current thesis is to extend minority stress theory in order to consider the long-term relationship between childhood bullying and positive mental health among LGBTQ adults. Using a hierarchical ordinary least squares regression model and a sample of LGBTQ education professionals, the current study found that there was a negative long-term relationship between childhood bullying and positive mental health among LGBTQ individuals. Further, disclosing one’s LGBTQ identity, and measures of LGBTQ-inclusion and support were all associated with flourishing levels of positive mental health, although they did not fully mitigate the effects of childhood bullying. The implications of the results were discussed in relation to future practices to reduce homophobia and transphobia within society, and in turn, reduce minority stress and maintain a flourishing state of positive mental health among all LGBTQ members. / October 2016